young journalist

Covering the Environment

Malaysian journalists who participated in a CFJ Environmental Journalism Program in November 1989 said that press coverage of the environment in Malaysia was not only erratic but superficial. This is true of many countries, not only in the developing world. Professor Sharon Friedman and Jim Detjen, key discussion leaders in the program, provided the following tips for journalists who cover (or plan to cover) the environment:

Educate yourself.

 If you have little or no knowledge about the environment (problems, solutions and issues), read up on the subject. Talk to those who have been reporting and writing on it, and research environmental stories.

Educate your audience.

You can educate your audience without necessarily turning into an environmental advocate. Some people may disagree with this. They may argue that an environmental journalist also has the responsibility of defending and promoting the environment.

Be a watchdog.

Find out who is involved in any specific environmental situation, what should be done that’s not being done, and why, what government agencies should be monitoring the situation, what actions are being taken and what others should be taken.

Expose alternative policies.

Press policy-makers to disclose what alternatives they have considered and what will happen if they do nothing. What are the social and economic costs of each alternative?

Talk to the experts.

Scientists, government officials and environmental activists, among others, offer diversified views, opinions and backgrounds that can be very helpful to the decision-making process. Keep in mind that some of them may have an "axe to grind" or an interest to serve. Experts tend to exaggerate the centrality of their roles. Scientists can be overconfident about their own results.

Be skeptical.

Scientists and experts are usually proud of their findings and conclusions. Always ask: "Has your work undergone peer review?"

Demand simple explanations.

Enterprising journalists should get specialists to tell their stories in simple language and deal with evasiveness or manipulation accordingly.

Seek competent and reliable sources.

These probably would include specialists at environmental agencies (public and private); scientists at local universities; national, regional or local health departments; and industrial sources.

Humanize, localize and personalize your stories.

Remember you are writing for the general public-scientists, government officials and the layman on the street. Figures, statistics and scientific concepts and theories are usually difficult to comprehend unless they are explained in human and personal terms (i.e., What does the story mean to your readers, viewers or listeners? Why should they read or listen to the story?).

Try to find a local angle.

Once you do, pursue it. An environmental story from another country may have some relevance to your audience.

Illustrate your stories.

Whenever possible, use graphics, tables, pictures and diagrams to increase understanding. They can often tell a story better than 1,000 words.

Keep writing simple.

Write clearly, communicate your ideas directly and avoid "writing down" to your readers. It is usually helpful to conjure up a mental picture of some specific person you wish to reach.

Translate jargon.

Formal scientific papers and speeches can be stiff and full of technical jargon. They are often badly written, poorly organized, and presented to a captive audience. If you use a technical term in your work, be sure to explain it immediately.

Build a personal reference library.

Obtain environmental reference books and subscribe to environmental publications. Get on the mailing lists of major environmental organizations in your country or region as well as international organizations with a global perspective onenvironmental issues.

Watch out for catchy phrases.

Quite often, over-used phrases are in fact little understood by the general public. So when someone uses a catchall like "health and safety standards," ask specifically what these standards are. Likewise with "acceptable risk factor." Find out exactly what risk is acceptable and why. Never take a turn of phrase at its face value.

Professor Sharon Friedman is director of the Science and Environmental Journalism Program at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and author of Reporting on the Environment. Jim Detjen holds the Knight professorial chair in environmental journalism at Michigan State University and is president of the International Federation of Environmental Journalists.